Mad cow fear hits other loads too
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by Derren Hayes • British hauliers are being stopped from entering other European countries, losing out to foreign competitors and facing "anti-British feeling" as the effects of the BSE scare continues.
Both the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association say UK hauliers carrying unrestricted loads have encountered difficulties at border checks.
The latest victim, Donnington-based haulier CL Hayes, had a truckload of Polish cattle bound for Turkey turned away from the Polish/German border even though it had all the correct documents.
The company was then accused of carrying British animals and changing the documents to hide this.
The cattle were transferred to a German-registered vehicle which passed through unquestioned. Director Karl Hayes says: "Any vehicle with a British plate is voodoo on the Continent. I have trucks standing still and it has cost me a lot of money."
Kent-based bulk tanker operator Dockspeed last week lost a major milk transporting order with a German firm because of the BSE scare.
Managing Director Andy Ingleston says: "One of our vehicles was stopped five times in five hours in France and there is a real anti-British feeling in Europe that will affect many hauliers business."
EL Irish hauliers are also being affected by the BSE crisis. Greenore-based Continental Perishables has seen business from one meat producer fall from seven loads a week to one.